Disk holding device

ABSTRACT

A disk holding device for packaging hard drive disks includes a cover having a latch arm with a locking tab that extends in a direction away from an interior of the disk holding device. The latch arm selectively engages a locking surface of a base portion to lock the disk holding device. The latch arm is unlocked by manipulating the latch arm in a first direction toward the interior of the disk holding device. The cover can then be removed by manipulating the latch arm in a second, transverse direction away from the interior of the device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a disk holding device. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a locking mechanism for a diskholding device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hard drive disks and semi-conductor wafers typically are manufactured inone location and packaged in disk holding devices, which aresubsequently placed in a container for shipment to another location. Thedisk holding devices eventually are removed from the containers and usedto store the hard drive disks during distribution in a productionprocess. The hard drive disks must be protected during all phases of anormal production cycle.

A variety of disk holding devices have been developed for packaging,shipping and distributing disks. Typical disk holding devices include acassette portion, a cover, a base portion and a latch to lock the deviceclosed. As is known, hard drive disks are received within a plurality ofslots within the cassette portion interior. One example is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 6,902,059. Other disk holding devices are also known.

During the production process, it is often necessary for the cover to beremoved from the cassette portion of the disk holding device to accessthe hard drive disks stored within. Automated machinery is oftenutilized to unlock and remove the cover of the disk holding device. Toachieve this result, and because of the locking design of the latch armof known disk holding devices, the automated machinery must manipulatethe latch arm by applying an outward pulling force on the latch arm in adirection away from the interior of the disk holding device to unlockand remove the cover. The manipulation applied by the automatedmachinery may fail to unlock the latch arm in a relatively large numberof instances. Disadvantageously, this may result in decreased productionefficiency and increased manufacturing complaints concerning the diskholding devices.

As such, there is a need for an improved arrangement for locking a diskholding device that achieves improved interaction with automatedmachinery used in the distribution process. This invention provides animproved latch arm that satisfies that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary disclosed disk holding device includes a latch arm forlocking the disk holding device. The latch arm has a locking tab near anend of the latch arm that extends in a direction facing away from aninterior of the disk holding device. This orientation of the locking tabis the opposite of what has been the standard approach.

One example disk holding device comprises a cassette portion having sidewalls and includes a base portion on one side of the cassette portionand a cover on the opposite side of the cassette portion.

In one example, the latch arm extends from the cover toward the baseportion and selectively engages at least one locking surface on the baseportion. In one example, a locking tab of the latch arm selectivelyengages the locking surface on the base portion. With such anarrangement a force toward the interior of the cassette applied to thelatch arm enables unlocking the disk holding device.

One example latch arm includes a lifting ledge that extends from thelatch arm in substantially the same direction as the locking tab.

One disclosed example includes a disk holding device having a coverincluding a latch arm near one end of the cover. The latch arm of thisexample includes a first surface that faces generally toward an oppositeend of the cover and a second surface that faces opposite of the firstsurface. A locking tab protrudes from the second surface in a directionaway from the cover.

The various features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription. The drawings that accompany the detailed description canbriefly be described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a disk holding device including a latch armdesigned according to one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cover for the disk holding device of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the disk holding device of FIG. 1 in an assembledcondition.

FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show a process for unlocking the exampledisk holding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 schematically shows a disk holding device 10 for housing aplurality of disks 12. The illustrated disk holding device 10 comprisesa cassette portion 14, a base portion 16 and a cover 18. The cassetteportion 14 includes two side walls 20, 22 and two end walls 24, 26 whichare configured to form an interior 28 for safely packaging the pluralityof disks 12. The side walls 20, 22 are aligned generally parallel to oneanother and are designed to minimize contact between and provide supportto the plurality of disks 12, keeping them spaced apart from one anotherand in a generally stable position within the disk holding device 10.The disks 12 are received in a plurality of slots 30 formed in the sidewalls 20, 22 of the cassette portion 14.

At least one of the opposing end walls 24, 26 includes a channel 34. Inone example, both end walls 24 and 26 include a channel 34. In theillustrated example, the channel 34 is generally U-shaped. The channel34 is provided on at least one end wall 24, 26 for access to the harddrive disks 12 when packaged in the cassette portion 14.

In the illustrated example, the base portion 16 is secured on one sideof the cassette portion 14 using an interference fit, for example. Inanother example, the base portion 16 is formed as a single piece,integral with the cassette portion 14. The cover 18 is received againstan opposite side of the cassette portion 14 from the base portion 16.The cover 18 includes a latch arm 32 for locking the disk holding device10 that extends toward the base portion 16 and is selectively secured toa locking surface 36 of the base portion 16. In one example, the cover18 includes two latch arms 32, with one latch arm 32 positioned at eachend of the cover 18.

3. In one disclosed example, Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the latch arm32A is positioned near one end 38 of the cover 18. The latch arm 32Aextends transversely from the cover 18 (i.e., toward the base portion16). A first surface 40 of the latch arm 32A faces generally toward anend 42 of the cover 18 which is opposite the end 38. The latch arm 32Aincludes a second surface 44 which faces opposite the first surface 40.In other words, the second surface 44 faces away from the end 42 of thecover 18.

The example latch arm 32 includes a locking tab 46 that protrudes fromthe second surface 44 away from the cover 18. In one example, thelocking tab 46 is positioned at a distal end of the latch arm 32. Thelatch arm also includes a lifting ledge 48 and at least one finger grip50. The lifting ledge 48 may assist automated removal of the cover 18 asdescribed below. In the disclosed example, two finger grips 50 areincluded on the latch arm 32. The finger grips 50 may assist a user inmanually manipulating the cover 18 relative to the disk holding device10.

In one example, the lifting ledge 48 and at least one finger grip 50extend in substantially the same direction as the locking tab 46. Theexample lifting ledge 48 is positioned on the second surface 44 of thelatch arm 32 between the finger grip 50 and the locking tab 46. Each ofthe locking tab 46, the lifting ledge 48 and the finger grip 50 protrudein a transverse direction away from the second surface 44 of the latcharm 32. The transverse direction faces away from the interior 28 of thedisk holding device 10, for example. Having a latch arm 32 with featuressuch as the locking tab 46 that face away from the interior 28 of thedisk holding device 10 is the opposite of previous designs. The exampleembodiment facilitates improves interaction between the disk holdingdevice 10 and automated machinery used to manipulate the latch arm 32during a production process.

An exemplary base portion 16 includes a locking surface 36 near one endwall 53. In one example, the end wall 53 includes arm portions 58adjacent the locking surface 36 to provide support and rigidity. Thelocking surface 36 extends between the two arm portions 58. A groove 60exists between the end wall 53 and the locking surface 36. At least aportion of the latch arm 32 is received through the groove 60 when thecover 18, the cassette portion 14 and the base 16 are assembled as shownin FIG. 3, for example.

A groove 52 is formed on the latch arm 32 between the two finger grips50. The groove 52 on the surface 44 exists, in part, to establish a boss54 that extends from the first surface 40 of the latch arm toward theinterior of the device 10. The boss 54 selectively engages the channel34 of an end wall 24, 26 to seal the disk holding device 10 when thecover 18 is received and locked on the cassette portion 14 (see FIG. 3,for example).

An assembled disk holding device 10 is illustrated in FIG. 3. In thisexample, the cover 18 is secured to the disk holding device 10 in alocked position. The latch arm 32 at least partially extends through thegroove 60 of base portion 16. The locking tab 46 at least partiallyabuts the locking surface 36. The locking tab 46 is received against thelocking surface 36 of the base portion 16 as the portion of the latcharm 32 moves through the groove 60. As best appreciated from FIG. 2, thelocking tab 46 has an angled surface 62 that facilitates inserting thetab through the groove 60. The locking tab 46 also has a locking surface64 that contacts the locking surface 36 on the base 18.

FIG. 4A schematically shows a machine 70 that manipulates the latch arm32 of the cover 18 by applying a force F on the latch arm in a directiontoward the interior 28 of the disk holding device 10. In the illustratedexample, the force F is applied to the surface 44 below the liftingledge 48. The example machine 70 has an arm 72 that contacts the surface44 to apply the force F. The arm 72 moves a distance sufficient to pushthe locking surface 64 clear of the locking surface 36 so that thelocking tab 46 is aligned with the groove. The resiliency of the latcharm 32 biases the locking tab 46 away from the interior 28 of thecassette portion 14 such that the locking surfaces 36 and 64 cooperateto keep the device 10 closed. The force F is sufficient to overcome thatbias.

While maintaining the force F on the latch arm 32, the arm 72 moves inan opening direction D2 to remove the cover 18 from the disk holdingdevice 10, as is illustrated in FIG. 4B. In the illustrated example, thesecond direction D2 is transverse to the direction of the force F. Thelifting ledge 48 may assist the arm 72 in lifting the cover off the base18 and the cassette 14.

In another example, the latch arm 32 and the cover 18 are manuallymanipulated to remove the cover 18. For example, an individual may pressagainst the surface 44 and use the finger grips 50 to manipulate thecover as desired.

The illustrated example includes various features that provide improvedinteraction between production machinery and a disk holding device toachieve a more simple method of unlocking a latch arm, for example. Theillustrated example includes a combination of improved latch arm andbase portion features. For example, the position of the latch arm 32within the groove 60 provides more security compared to previousarrangements where a latch arm engaged a base from the outside edge ofthe base. Those skilled in the art that have the benefit of thisdescription will be able to utilize a latch arm having a locking tab, abase portion with a locking surface, a lifting ledge or finger grips orany combination of these features to meet the needs of their particularsituation.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature.Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may becomeapparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart fromthe essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given tothis invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

1. A disk holding device, comprising: a latch arm for locking the diskholding device having a locking tab near an end of the latch armextending in a direction facing away from an interior of the diskholding device.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1, comprising acassette portion having opposing side walls and opposing end walls forforming the interior of the disk holding device, wherein at least one ofthe opposing end walls includes a channel and the latch arm includes aboss that selectively engages the channel when the disk holding deviceis locked.
 3. The device as recited in claim 2, comprising a baseportion and a cover, the base portion on one side of the cassetteportion and the cover on an opposite side of the cassette portion,wherein the latch arm extends from the cover toward the base portion andselectively engages at least one locking surface of the base.
 4. Thedevice as recited in claim 3, wherein the base portion comprises agroove and the latch arm extends at least partially through the groovesuch that the locking tab at least partially abuts the at least onelocking surface.
 5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the latcharm includes a lifting ledge extending in substantially the samedirection as the locking tab.
 6. The device as recited in claim 1,wherein the latch arm includes at least one finger grip extendingtransverse to the latch arm in substantially the same direction as thelocking tab.
 7. A disk holding device, comprising: a cassette portionincluding a base portion having at least one locking surface, opposingside walls and opposing end walls which form an interior for housing atleast one disk; and a cover including a latch arm near one end of thecover, the latch arm having a first surface facing generally toward anopposite end of the cover and a second surface facing opposite the firstsurface and having a locking tab that protrudes from the second surfacein a direction away from the cover.
 8. The device as recited in claim 7,wherein the base portion comprises a distinct component from thecassette portion.
 9. The device as recited in claim 7, comprising alifting ledge disposed on the latch arm between the cover and thelocking tab and protruding substantially in the same direction as thelocking tab.
 10. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one of theopposing end walls comprises a channel and the latch arm includes a bossextending transverse from the first surface toward the opposite end ofthe cover for selectively engaging the channel of the at least one ofthe opposing end walls.
 11. The device as recited in claim 7, whereinthe latch arm includes at least one finger grip extending transverse tothe latch arm in substantially the same direction as the locking tab.12. A method of opening a disk holding device including a cassetteportion and a cover having a latch arm, comprising the step of:manipulating the latch arm in a first direction toward an interior ofthe device to unlock the latch arm.
 13. The method as recited in claim12, comprising manipulating the latch arm in a second, transversedirection away from the interior of the device to remove the cover fromthe cassette portion.
 14. The method as recited in claim 12, comprisingautomatically manipulating the latch arm.
 15. The method as recited inclaim 12, comprising manually manipulating the latch arm.
 16. The methodas recited in claim 13, comprising applying a force in the firstdirection to unlock the latch arm and maintaining the force in the firstdirection while manipulating the latch arm in the second, transversedirection.
 17. The method as recited in claim 13, comprising engaging afirst surface of the latch arm in the first direction to unlock thelatch arm and engaging a second, transverse surface in the second,transverse direction to remove the cover from the cassette portion.